Cath flares his wings subtly, enough to drop speed, and Dain jumps as he passes by the professors. He hits the sunburned grass at a run, dispelling the momentum from Cath’s flight within a few yards, and comes to a stop.
The third-years cheer, but Bodhi remains silent at my side.
“And that is why Aetos is a wingleader,” Kaori calls out. “Perfect execution. This approach is the most efficient landing for when we need to engage in ground combat. By the time this year is over, you’ll be able to land like this on any outpost wall. Pay close attention, and you’ll be able to complete this safely. Try your own method, and you’ll be dead before you hit the ground.”
The fuck I will.
“Adaptation will be necessary,” Tairn decrees.
“For today, we’re going to practice the basics of moving from the seat to the shoulder,” Kaori instructs.
“How are we adapting to that?” I ask Tairn.
“I didn’t say we would.” He chuffs. “The dragon-watcher will adapt his request, or I’ll have an early lunch.”
This maneuver is totally, completely pointless in the kind of war we need to fight.
“Kaori doesn’t know what’s out there,” I say softly to Bodhi.
“What makes you so sure?” He glances my way.
“If he did, he’d be teaching us faster ways to get off the damned ground, not land on it.”
“Tell him that we’re still working on the next shipment,” Bodhi tells me as we walk through the moonlit flight field a little before midnight a few nights later.
“Shipment of what?” I ask, adjusting my pack on my shoulders.
“He’ll know what I’m talking about,” he promises, wincing as his fingers graze the dark bruise on his jaw. “And tell him it’s raw. They’ve had the forge burning night and day, so we haven’t been able to—” He flinches. “Just tell him it’s raw.”
“I’m starting to feel a lot like a letter.” I shoot a glare at him for a second. That’s all I’m willing to look away from the uneven terrain for. There’s no chance I’m risking a sprained ankle before a twelve-hour flight.
“You’re the best way of getting information to him,” he admits.
“Without actually knowing anything.”
“Precisely.” He nods. “It’s safer this way until you’re capable of shielding from Aetos at all times. Xaden was supposed to continue teaching you last visit, but then…”
“I got strangled.” At least I’ve only been attacked once so far this year, but challenges open back up in a week.
“Yeah. It kind of fucked with his head.”
“I imagine that dropping dead randomly would have been inconvenient to him,” I mutter, half listening. Shit. Challenges open up in a week. It’s time to start checking the list the cadre keeps so I can go about my poisoning ways again.
“You know it’s not like that for him,” he says in a lecturing tone that reminds me of Xaden. “I’ve never seen him—”
“Let’s not do this.”
“—care like this—”
“No really. Stop.”
“—and that includes Catriona.”
My gaze whips toward him. “Who the hell is Catriona?”
He winces and presses his lips in a thin line. “What are the chances that you’ll forget I said that between here and Samara?”
“None.” I stumble on a rock, or my feelings, but manage to catch my balance. Physically, at least. My thoughts? Those are tripping over themselves down the path of wondering who Catriona is. An older rider? Someone from Aretia?
“Right.” He rubs the back of his neck and sighs. “Not even the tiniest bit of a chance? Because the thing about the deal you two have with your dragons is that he’ll be back here next week, and I’m not remotely in the mood to have my ass kicked after fending off another assassination attempt.”
I grab his arm and stop walking. “Another assassination attempt?”
He sighs. “Yeah. Second time someone tried to jump me in the bathing chamber this week.”
My eyes widen as my heart hammers in my chest. “Are you okay?”
He has the gall to grin. “I completely eviscerated some asshole out of Second Wing while naked and only got a bruise. I’m fine. But back to why you shouldn’t mention that comment to my rather moody cousin you’re sleeping with—”
“You know what?” I start walking to the middle of the field again. If he doesn’t want to process assassination attempts, then we have nothing else to say. “I don’t know you nearly well enough to discuss who I am or am not sleeping with, Bodhi,” I throw over my shoulder.
He shoves his hands in his pockets and leans back on his heels. “You make a fair point.”
